Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer, a Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means who is also expected to serve as Chair of Congress’ Joint Economic Committee in the 117^th Congress, issued the following statement today after the Ways and Means Committee advanced the portions of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan legislation under its jurisdiction:

“Today we answered the call of the American people by advancing big, ambitious legislation to help end the pandemic and save the economy. Economists, policy leaders, and economic data all point to the ongoing need to provide major additional relief, and we are working to meet that need with the scale and speed that this situation requires. I look forward to voting with my colleagues for final passage soon, there is no time to waste.”

The Ways and Means Committee markup took place over two days and covered over half of the relief bill. Its provisions include measures extending and expanding federal unemployment benefits, providing direct payments for the American people, expansions of child tax credits, and helping Americans afford health coverage. Republicans on the Committee voted to remove, cut, or limit each of these provisions, but were defeated in party line votes.

Details and text of the relief legislation advanced in the Ways and Means Committee markup can be found here.